Chapter 8 — Easy Goodbye, New Meeting Again?

“But I never thought you would actually leave.”

I calmly replied:

“Because you all think I'm easy to coax.”

“You think I will grit my teeth and resign because of 9 years of love.”

"Tran Van Tu thinks I don't have the guts to leave him."

“So even though you know I will get hurt, you still step on my limits time and time again.”

Luong Kieu bowed her head. "Sorry." She said this apology very softly. I didn't answer immediately. In the distance, there was a person pushing a coffee cart passing by, the slight bitter smell of roasted coffee beans wafting through the air. A long time later, I said: "I accept my apology." Luong Kieu looked up. I continued: “But we end up here.” The light that had just flashed in her eyes slowly faded away. “Nem Niem…”

“Luong Kieu, I never want to hear you say another word.”

She stood rooted to the spot, her eyes red as she watched me enter the company lobby. Before the elevator door closed, I saw her bow her head and wipe the corner of her eyes. 10 Saturday, the weather is very nice. I moved into a newly rented small apartment and invited my parents over for hot pot in the afternoon. The hot pot sauce is tomato beef ribs, I made my own dipping bowl filled with green onions, cilantro and chopped chili. My father smiled and said: "How did I not know you ate salty food like this before?" I also laughed: "I almost forgot before." Halfway through the meal, the phone rang. It's a strange number. I picked up the phone, and on the other end of the line, the hoarse voice of Tran Van Tu was heard.

“Nim Niem, where are you?”

I remained silent. His side was very noisy, you could vaguely hear the music in the hotel lobby.

“Today was supposed to be the day we got engaged.” His voice trembled.

“I'm at a hotel.”

“I bought your favorite sunflower bouquet.”

"I also deleted Luong Kieu's contact."

“Nien Niem, can I come and take a look?”

I held my chopsticks tightly, looking at the boiling tomato hot pot. If it was half a year ago, I probably would have been so excited that I couldn't sleep all night. But now, what he does just makes me feel tired.

"Tran Van Tu, we broke up."

The other end of the line was silent for a long time.

“I know.” His voice choked.

“But I don't mind.”

"I don't understand, 9 years of love, how can I say it's all over?"

I put down my chopsticks and walked out to the balcony. In the yard, there was a boy learning to ride a bicycle. He fell down and then crawled up again. The mother standing next to him did not immediately help, but just smiled and encouraged the boy to try again. Looking at that scene, I suddenly felt my heart soften.

“Tran Van Tu, it's not that it's over, it's that I've accumulated disappointment too many times.”

“I said I wanted to learn to drive, and you and she laughed together at me for being cowardly.”

“I said I didn't like her sitting in the passenger seat of your car, you said I was thinking too much.”

“You always say it's just the little things.”

“But small things piled up are enough to crush a person.”

From the phone came the sound of very heavy breathing. Tran Van Tu seemed to no longer be able to find any words to justify. A long time later, he whispered and asked: "So I'll fix it now, is there still time?"

“It's too late.”

“Tran Van Tu, I don't need you to change anymore.”

His voice immediately collapsed, as if those words had stabbed him in the heart:

“Before Haven't you always hoped that I would change?"

“That's right.” I smiled slightly.

“So now I don't hope anymore.”

Because there is no more love. So no more expectations. And no more disappointment. For a long time after that, I did not see Tran Van Tu again. According to mutual friends, he and Luong Kieu had a huge argument and completely shunned each other.